Prominent Lingayat seer of Siddaganga Math, 111-year old Shivakumara Swamiji, also known as the ‘Walking God’, died today after a prolonged illness. “The seer left for the heavenly abode leaving his mortal body at 11.44 am,” announced the Siddaganga Education Society founded by the seer.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy told reporters in Tumakuru, “I am deeply saddened to announce that the walking God, Parama Poojya Siddaganga Sri, has passed away. It is an irreparable loss to the state. His contribution to the society transformed lakhs of people from across the state. He shaped the future of many people,” Kumaraswamy also announced a government holiday on Tuesday and state mourning for three days.
The highly revered pontiff of the influential Lingayats, the major community in Karnataka, is a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Karnataka Ratna, the highest state civilian award. He was in a serious condition for the past two months and had undergone a surgery at a private hospital in Chennai about two months ago for his liver related complications.